EM: A Circle story from my heart. Thank you so much to the four of you who reviewed! They made me feel so awesome! Anyway welcome back and I do so hope that you enjoy.

Rating: This chapter is Rated M because Briar is, well, Briar.

Disclaimer: All that is Circle belongs to Tamora Pierce.


Chapter 1: Part 2

The 14th day of Storm, 1044 K.F.
½ mile West of Summersea
Along the cliff of the Pebbled Sea

They had decided to take lunch before taking a look further into the mess that Sandry had already dubbed her home, when Daja thought it would be a good idea to fill in her foster-brother on Sandry's plans, since her other sister was too far away to communicate with.

He should be free, she thought. She felt along her connection, following the green vine until the thickness indicated when she was close enough for him to hear.

Briar, she called. When he didn't respond she pushed a little harder through their connection until it strengthened and suddenly Daja felt a moan vibrate deep in her throat and pressure build between her legs, as images of flesh colored legs dripping with sweat and chestnut colored hair cascaded down an arched back.

Daja slammed up a barrier of hot metal between her and Briar, hammering at it until she was sure nothing could leak through their connection and then dropped it into a bucket of cold water.

Daja held her breath for a count of seven, feeling Sandry's eyes on her, and then released that breath, concentrating on getting her emotions under control.

Briar's with the soul healer all right, she thought.

She sighed deep within herself, the bellows releasing all of its air. She released all of the emotion she had taken from Briar and blew it away from her. She continued the exercise four times. Only when she was sure that she was under control of her own body did she drop her walls.

Thanks a lot Daj'.

There was Briar's magical self, shirtless and sweaty in her mind's eyes. He was slightly breathless and the scowl on his face told her he was not pleased. Daja thanked Trader Koma and Bookkeeper Oti that she had been blessed with her Trader poise and control because Briar's emotions were still managing to leak through her barrier a little and he was definitely not in control of them.

And what did we tell you about bedding the last soul healer Briar?

He growled. Daja glanced in Sandry's direction to find her attention on one of her guards, inspecting an outer garment of his. She prayed to Shurri that Sandry's attention didn't turn to her or decide to check in on Briar.

You're lucky Sandry's attention is otherwise diverted and it was me who found you like that.

He grunted.

Leave me be while I get decent, will ya? She closed off her mind to give him what he wanted. She almost wished she had stepped in on her sister Tris playing with lighting than Briar in bed with a woman. She shook her head at the thought when she felt Briar poke at her connection.

What did you want that you had to interrupt me for?

She watched as he handed the soul healer coins, a deep smile caressing her face. Briar smiled in return and turned away, disappearing into the afternoon crowd.

I didn't think you paid them. She felt his recoil at her words.

She did attempt to heal me first Daj'. And you should know I'm not the type to pay for it. Rosethorn raised me better'n that. He sounded offended.

I was only making a statement. She felt him dodge a cart laden full of goods, cursing. Although she wouldn't deny that was checking to be sure he wasn't paying for that. She knew Briar wasn't the type to do that, but things had taken a different turn when Sandry had stuck her nose into his business and started bustling him off to one soul healer after another. She scolded herself for momentarily doubting him.

Well get on with it then. What did you want? She bristled at his coarseness but moved on. She had interrupted him.

Take a look at this. She turned her head toward Sandry's mess, felt Sandry's full focus back on her and took in the tower, empty building and the jungle once more. She felt Briar halt in the middle of the street and look fully through her eyes.

What in Lakik's teeth is that? Daja smiled in satisfaction. She knew one of her other foster-siblings would feel the same.

Sandry's newest project. She felt him tense up and then continue his trek on home, shaking his head, shoving his hands into his breeches pockets.

'Bought time she found a new play-thing.

Daja grimaced. Recently Sandry had taken it into her hands to take on projects, particularly things that needed fixing. She thought it was especially imperative that Briar visit every soul healer there was in Summersea. It seemed to start after Tris' departure for Lightsbridge. First it was clothes for the children of the Mire that had resulted in a lot of visits that Daja did not appreciate. Then it was changing the style of all the cloth in Daja's house from the mixture of Namornese, which she suspected Sandry did not want around because of Berenene and coming up with a style all her own that included something of the what the Duke had to what they had had in Discipline to what Sandry had developed over time. Daja had had nothing really to complain over that one. The last had resulted in Briar seeing soul healer's throughout Summersea. Daja was even beginning to wonder if he bedded them out of contempt for Sandry's meddling.

So what do you think of it? Briar peered through her eyes one more time and shrugged his shoulders. She felt a small tendril of his magic leak out toward the now wriggling greenery before them. It must feel his presence, she thought. Even when he's so far away, he can still have that kind of effect. Daja was impressed but she kept her thoughts to herself.

As much as you may be against this Daj' I wouldn't mind her nobleness out of my neb.

Daja had suspected as much.

Well she'll probably want to show it to you as well later.

Long as it ain't no soul healer I'll go wherever her highness likes. I'll even clap my hands and spin 'round three times, like a bleat-brain. Daja chuckled.

See you at home then? He grunted his affirmation and took off for home, cutting off their connection.

"Talking with Briar?" Daja turned to Sandry and nodded. "Did you show him?" She nodded again but said nothing further, taking a large bite into her cheese, chewing and swallowing, thinking about what Briar had said. He seemed to be in a bitter mood these days. Perhaps she ought to tell Sandry to back off on the soul healer bit?

"Well. What did he say Daja?" Daja turned to Sandry, her blue eyes impatient.

"He didn't say much, really. I think he's alright with it." Sandry nodded, though she could tell something else was wrong. She didn't push any further. When she tested her bond with Briar she found it closed off and sighed. Lately he had been very restless and had taken to sleeping in his bedroll under the bed.

And that worried Sandry.

"He's been sleeping under the bed Daja," she spoke aloud. She glanced at Daja and saw her grimace in return and nod.

"I found him in the forge the other night," she countered back. Sandry turned to Daja shocked. Sometimes she hated splitting her time between being at the Citadel and with her brother and sisters.

"I didn't know about that. Why was he in there?" She looked to Daja as she dusted her hands on her breeches, chewing the last of her bread.

"He told me it was greener out there," and she shook her head unbelievably, her braids swinging back and forth.

"Though I'm not sure how. There aren't any plants, unless you count my materials which can still hardly be considered plants." Sandry sat up straighter. "He had his shakkan with him, of course." Daja shook her head again, eyes only slightly worried.

Then it's settled. I'm buying this land and this house and I'm fixing it up. And if not for me than for Briar. If plants are what he needs, and Sandry turned to the tangle of greenery, imagining Briar's lithe form bent over the many plants, ankle deep in dirt, maybe even smiling, perhaps able to sleep through the night for once.

If plants are what he needs, then I'll give him a forest.

Daja turned to her sister and smiled. She's all on her dignity again, Daja thought. Sandry could be stubborn, bred from the best mules, but she always took care of her family. Briar may not like how pushy she could be, but she wanted to help him and Daja felt the same. She may not have resorted to Sandry's ways, forcing Briar into the hands of one soul healer after another but perhaps she had better start doing something.

"You're thinking of tearing down one side of the wall and extending it aren't you." Sandry smiled and stood up, reaching down a hand for Daja. She took it and stood with her, walking towards what Sandry was going to call her new home. Two guards followed them. "It's not a bad idea. It would give him plenty of room to do as he pleases. Keep him busy."

"It's going to be harder to work through the land without Tris here," Sandry muttered. Daja agreed but she didn't mind. There was little work at the forge and suddenly the idea of hard labor had her in a good mood. She was excited.

"The tower is still in good shape," Daja commented, eyeing the empty building that stood at the other end of the wall.

"Isn't it?" Sandry looked up, shading her eyes and missed the hole in the ground. She pitched forward, squeaked and was caught at the elbow by the guard at her left.

"Oh, my goodness, thank you so much," she said and when she looked up at her rescuer she blushed slightly and turned away, quicker than she had wanted. Daja took note of this and eyed the guard.

He's attractive, she thought. Attractive and young.

Daja shook her and smiled. It was about time Sandry found someone to pique her interest. After the Namorn incident Daja had been afraid Sandry would be adverse to any man in her life other than Briar, her Uncle and their teachers.

"What do you, um, think of the empty building at the end? I admit I don't really have any uses for it." Daja stopped at the wall, its foundation more damaged than she had first seen.

"The wall's going to need more repair than I had first anticipated," she said as an afterthought. She looked up and down the wall, toward the building. It was large and the open doors suggested that it could have once been used as a barn. There was a second story loft and it was spacious inside. Daja couldn't help it. This building was much larger than her forge in Summersea and she was envisioning another forge, one larger where she could handle bigger projects. One where she could have the room and plenty left over to keep everything that she had and do what she needed in that place.

Not that she didn't love her home in Summersea nor did she want to get rid of it, but this place offered her something else, something different. This place reminded her of Discipline and Winding Circle without her teachers and the Hub clock strikes. This place could offer her quiet and solitude when she wanted it. There was something about this place that she wanted to know.

"Daja?" She looked down at Sandry, smiling slowly.

"You knew I was going to like it didn't you?" She asked in Tradertalk. "You have the tower for Tris, which I bet you'll convert two stories into libraries and her rooms." She watched as Sandry's face grew still, her features taking on a pleasant, reserved look. Daja knew that look as well. "The garden was for Briar, the solitude so that he would have time to heal on his own. You know he won't take the soul healers seriously. And the building over there is for me to convert into another forge. And even if I wasn't, you were going to do that on your own weren't you." Sandry folded her hands neatly before her and turned her nose up slightly at Daja's words.

Some things truly never change.

Sandry did not respond. Daja watched as she kept her face straight, never straying from the tower.

"Do you want anything for yourself saati? A house for yourself? A family of your own?" Sandry turned to Daja, a small smile gracing her delicate features. Daja felt an avalanche of emotions fall through their bond and she felt Sandry's hand slip through hers.

"Tris, Briar, you. All of you are my family. Lark, Rosethorn, Niko, Frostpine, Uncle, Pasco, even Yazmín. Without any of you in my life, I wouldn't have anything." Sandry squeezed Daja's fingers and turned back to the land before her.

"Wherever we are together is where I want to be. That's my home. That's where I'm happy."


Reviews are a sign of your kindness.

A/N: These first two chapters were a prologue. I'll more than likely have an author's note at the end of each one giving you facts and notes if they are needed. Ratings may change within chapters as well, depending on what the contents are.

These two chapters were also a bit Daja-centric because I feel she's the steadiest character and she was the best one for the beginning. But I'll probably end up rotating through each of the characters perspectives, Sandry's the least most likely (she's my least favorite character).

Hope you all enjoyed and that I'll see you next time.